The University of Louisville Cardinal Singers is a choir consisting of between 29-40 members, and is the most selective choral ensemble at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. History The Cardinal Singers were founded in 1970 under the name University Singers by the late William C. Lathon, former University of Louisville professor in the Schools of Music and Education, as an outreach organization for the University of Louisville. In 1980 they were appointed by then Governor John Y. Brown, Jr. as Commonwealth of Kentucky "ambassadors of good will." Mr. Lathon conducted the ensemble until 1991, when Shirley Wilkinson, long-time Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky) choral director, took over the leadership of the Singers. Dr. Kent Hatteberg began conducting the ensemble in 1997, and the name was changed to "Cardinal Singers" in 1998 to include the school's mascot. The ensemble rehearses twice weekly, and students receive a half credit for participation. The outreach mission of the Cardinal Singers continues as a focus today, and the Singers have made a number of appearances nationally and internationally participating in competitions, seminars, and benefits. Performances, awards and events 11th International Choir Competition, Zadar, Croatia 2018 Top score (95/100), Abbess Čika’s Golden Cross Grand Prix of the City of Zadar winner Special award for best program Xi'an International Choral Festival, Xi'an, China 2017 Harmonie-Festival- Lindenholzhausen, Germany 2017 First Prize in mixed choir category Second Prize in sacred music category, special prize for best program Second Prize in folk music category Gotham SINGS! Collegiate Choral Showcase at Carnegie Hall, New York, New York 2017 ACDA National Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota 2017 China International Chorus Festival, Beijing, 2016 ACDA Southern Division Conference, Chattanooga, Tennessee 2016 NCCO National Conference, Portland, Oregon 2015 Taipei International Choral Festival, Taiwan 2015 Singapore International Choral Festival, Singapore 2015 Malmgren Concert Series at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 2014 Sing'n'Joy Louisville host choir and festival choir, Louisville, Kentucky 2013 Vietnam International Choir Competition, Vietnam 2013 Hội An Choir Grand Prize Gold Diploma, Category winners in Mixed Gold Diploma, Category winners in Folklore Gold Diploma, Category winners in Sacred Yeosu International Choir Competition and Festival, South Korea 2013 Overall Grand Prize First place Mixed choirs category First place Sacred category Second place Pop/Jazz category Second place Folk/Gospel/Spiritual category Best Conductor Award (Dr. Kent Hatteberg) ACDA National Conference, Dallas, Texas 2013 U.S./Cuba Choral Summit, Cuba 2012 INTERKULTUR World Rankings as of April, 2012 No. 1 Overall No.